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Mr. President, the Bill being laid before this Honourable House is the annual Appropriation Bill required by subsection (1) of section 116 of the Constitution of Jamaica. It provides authority for expenditure (other than statutory expenditure) for the financial year 2009/10 and specifies the manner in which that expenditure is to be allocated to the various services and purposes specified...

Much of this year's Budget Debate has been spent discussing the unprecedented economic challenges facing the global economy. To be sure, we find ourselves at a difficult and critical juncture. Nevertheless, this year's Budget Debate has given Jamaicans and all stakeholders ample reasons to be proud, particularly in light of the challenges we face. Rather than discussing the details of...

The challenging global context This debate is taking place in the context of the worst global economic downturn since the Great Depression 80 years ago. It is frequently referred to as a "crisis" and that is exactly what it is. Economies that had come to regard robust economic growth as a natural way of life have suddenly found themselves slipping...

Mr. Speaker, this marks the 29th consecutive occasion that I have had the opportunity to participate in the Budget presentation in this Honourable House. On this particular occasion, the challenges facing our country are unprecedented, given the current global economic downturn. I am confident, however, that working together we will be able to pull through these difficult times. Since last...

We enter this year's Budget Debate in the midst of the most challenging global economy in our nation's history. The world is experiencing a severe economic contraction not seen since the great depression over 75 years ago. All over the world: economies are slowing, businesses are closing and jobs are vanishing. Under this weight, some of the oldest and largest...

Mr. Speaker, it is indeed a humbling experience as I rise to speak in this Honourable House not only as a second term Member of Parliament, and first time Cabinet Minister, but at a time when the people of Jamaica have embraced and voted for a change. They have voted for a team committed to, and leading the charge to...

I begin my first Budget Presentation as a member of the Cabinet by expressing my gratitude to those who have traveled this journey with me to this point. Some, from the beginning. To some of my friends, that journey started as early as high school when we organized fellow students in activities ranging from visiting infirmaries and children's homes; to...

INTRODUCTION Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I begin by expressing my appreciation to all who have worked tirelessly in the preparation of this budget. a) To the Prime Minister and the members of the Cabinet who have nipped and tucked their budgets and kept them lean. b) To my fellow Ministers - Senator Wehby and Senator Nelson. (Team work) c) To...

INTRODUCTION Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I begin by expressing my appreciation to all who have worked tirelessly in the preparation of this budget. a) To the Prime Minister and the members of the Cabinet who have nipped and tucked their budgets and kept them lean. b) To my fellow Ministers - Senator Wehby and Senator Nelson. (Team work) c) To...

You have assembled today to begin the new legislative session. As you deliberate, please be mindful of the trust that the people of Jamaica have reposed in you and the responsibilities they have placed on your shoulders. Strong and Mature Democracy The general elections last year resulted in a change of administration. The relative smoothness of this change is a...

We have just completed the first Cabinet retreat of the new Government and it was originally scheduled to last over three days. We had to extend it to a fourth because of the volume of matters that had to be dealt with and the weightiness of the issues we had to grapple with. 58 Policy SubmissionsIndeed, in the course of...

I am delighted to be here with you this evening to join in your weekly meeting. It is one of those rare opportunities for me nowadays to fellowship with other persons who are involved in the business of service and not fear being targeted. And when I say targeted, I don't mean ambushed. As a former President of the Jaycees...